| Fadhil Yunus |
DPMM FC took a step closer to an unprecedented fourth title after reaching the Singapore League Cup final following a narrow 1-0 victory against Home United at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.
The ‘Gegar Gegar’ men have also reached their second League Cup final in three years after their 2014 win in head coach Steve Kean’s first full season.
Home United’s double act Ken Ilso and Shamil Sharif enjoyed a telepathic understanding as the focal points of attack with the latter contrived to hit his shot wide.
DPMM FC steadily got into the game as Helmi Zambin neatly disguised his movement which Sufianto Salleh took bait before drifting in and finding a shot which warmed Home United’s goalkeeper Hyrulnizam Juma’at’s gloves.
Ilso again perfected his role as danger man mixing his game with Aqhari Abdullah before releasing South Korean Song Ui-young whose shot straight at DPMM FC’s goalkeeping custodian Wardun Yussof.
DPMM FC continued to weather the storm as Shamil found Aqhari but Wardun did well to save the latter’s effort at his near post.
DPMM FC’s forward Adi Said in action against Home United FC in the Singapore League Cup semi-final at Jalan Besar Stadium last night. – S LEAGUE
For all the attacking adventure that Home orchestrated it appeared to be a case of Groundhog Day again reminiscent of their first leg encounter in the Singapore Cup last year as DPMM FC took the lead from open play.
The trigger-friendly Adi Said whose knack for open fire at will is not a strange sight to S League opponents saw his shot clattered against the crossbar but it was Rafael Ramazotti who instinctively pounced to give DPMM FC a slender advantage.
The Protectors searched for an immediate response two minutes later with Shamil reaching Aqhari’s through ball but fired high into the skies.
Home United spurned an opportunity to draw level after Sufianto missed the target with the goal at his mercy from a Juma’at low cross.
The costly miss could have somehow directly prompted head coach Philippe Aw to make a change as the wing-back made way for Mahathir Azeman.
Aqhari and Shamil proved to be the busiest players for Home United and the latter contrived to see his shot brilliantly stopped by Wardun before Najib Tarif cleared the danger.
Uprising star Azim Izamuddin Suhaimi who got his first goal in DPMM FC colours last week played a cameo role after replacing Hendra Azam.
DPMM FC will meet defending champions Albirex Niigata (S) who hammered Tampines Rovers FC 4-0 in the other semi-final in what promises to be a supercharged affair.
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